Background: Der Schulungsbrief was the Nazi Party’s monthly
for political education. It attempted to present Nazi ideology in a way
understandable to the masses. Party block wardens encouraged every household
to subscribe. These are thirteen issues from 1942-1944, the years the balance of the war clearly shifted. In January 1942, it
was possible for a German to think the war could be won. By April 1944, it was hard to believe that things were going well. The covers
are thumbnails.

The source:Der Schulungsbrief, 1942-1944

The Schulungsbrief in
1942-1944

January/February/March 1942. The cover
shows a German soldier attacking the Bolshevist dragon, with the caption:
“The Reich and Europe are winning.” The lead article by
Robert Ley begins: “Like all creatures, a human being has to
follow the laws of nature. The National Socialist principle that humanity
is divided into races, and that the races vary in their nature, abilities,
and accomplishments, is an accepted fact everywhere, despite all the
Jewish attempts to deny it.” Another article blames Jews for
Germany’s defeat in World War I, and includes a graphic cartoon of
a Jewish hand stabbing a German soldier in the back.

April/May/June 1942. The cover is captioned:
“Battle and labor — brothers in victory.” The lead
article encourages working for victory. Another article deals with
Nazi plans for the European economy.

July/August 1942. The cover caption:
“With plow and sword to victory.” Most of the issue deals
with Nazi views on agriculture, including a long piece on German settlements
in the east. A major article finds fault with the United States. It
concludes: “The abyss to which Roosevelt’s mistakes have led
is becoming only gradually clear to the average American. The crisis
of Americanism first appeared at the end of Hoover’s term in a surprising
manner, and has been concealed since only through constant emergency
measures. Nothing will be able to stop it from encompassing all of
American life, and sweeping it over a Niagara Falls.”

September/October 1942. The cover caption:
“Life demands battle.” The lead article, titled “Europe’s
Fateful Battle in the East,” deals with the war in Russia. Another
article praises German soldiers.

November/December 1942. The cover and
lead article have the same title: “Victory
of Racial Strength.” The next article deals with European racial
thinking. Several pages of art illustrate the theme. Another article
finds little good about the American “melting pot,” and
yet another article claims the Soviet Union is a racial mish-mash.

January/February 1943. The cover caption
translates as “Work leads us to victory.” The issue opens
with a quotation by Hitler: “This is war of money against labor,
capital against the peoples, the forces of Reaction against those
of human progress. And labor, and thus the peoples, and thus progress
will win! All of Jewry’s support cannot stop it.” The lead article
by Robert Ley is titled “Our Work Makes Us Free.” Another
article argues that Germans have a better attitude toward work than
the enemy side. Photos show Germans working in the east and problems
in the USA. An article claims that most good things in the USA are
the result of the labor of German immigrants. The final article is
on labor holidays and ceremonies, focusing on May Day and the Harvest
Festival.

March/April 1943. The cover caption
is “Forward to Victory.” The opening quotation from Hitler
is: “Woman was always not only the life companion, but also the
labor companion, of the man. There is no struggle for a man that is
not also a struggle for the woman, and there is no struggle for the
woman that is not also a struggle for the man. We know no rights for
men and no rights for women, rather we know but one right for both
sexes, which is also the duty to live together for the nation, to
work and to fight.” The lead article finds the situation of women
far better in Germany than it is in America or elsewhere in Europe.
There is a piece on the history of the German housewife. Another article
looks at German achievements in America. The final article looks at
the war in the east.

May/June 1943. The cover caption
is: “Our battle.” The opening article, titled “The
Great Experience,” begins: “Our whole domestic life faces
the need to increase its work for the war. This goal affects the personal
lives of millions of people. The whole people will have to come to
terms with changes and shortages, which given the situation can no
longer be avoided in civilian life.” The next article claims
the United States is anything but a peaceful country. The series on
Germans in America continues. The final article claims the Jews are
behind the attack on Europe.

July/August 1943. The cover translates
as “The People at Work.” The first article is titled “A
Great Age  Great Accomplishments.” Two articles review
European history. An article records a soldier’s wedding. Other articles
look at food rationing, the causes of the war, and the influence of
Jews in the USA.

September/October 1943. The cover shows
a party member standing by a woman and her children who have been
bombed out of their home. Enemy planes crash, and a hand rises from
the flames. The first article is titled “The Call of Freedom.”
It concludes: “This we know: Our victory will open the way for
a more beautiful and happier Germany with National Socialist justice,
and for a proud and blessed Europe! No one will take victory from
us, for justice and freedom, human dignity and the strength of the
future are on our side. We must only remain true to ourselves and
true to the call of true freedom!” The next article covers Germany’s
social achievements. There is a letter from
a soldier in the east to his wife, a story of bravery in an
air raid shelter, and a piece about agriculture.

January-February 1944. The cover
shows a sculpture of the head of a wounded solder by Arno Breker, a leading Nazi artist. The lead interior article is on the role of the S.A. Albert Speer has an article titled “Our Superiority Will Win the Battle against the Masses.” Another article considers Allied bombing, making the claim that those who had been bombed out of their homes are “the avant-garde of German revenge.” A question/answer column claims that German savings are secure, that the Allies want to starve German women and children, and that Jews are cowardly parasites.

March-April 1944. The cover shows a mother caring for her children. The lead article by Robert Ley is titled “Our Most Valuable Possession: The People’s Community.” Alfred Rosenberg has a piece titled “The War Criminal Churchill.”